It is three months since last we heard of him--four months, indeed.

Yet he must have been apprised of his father's death, and that should have occasioned his return." "Was he indeed apprised of it ?" inquired Garnache.

"Did you, yourself, communicate the news to him ?" "I ?" she cried.

"But no, monsieur.

We do not correspond." "That is a pity," said Garnache, "for I believe that the knowledge of the Marquis's death was kept from him by his stepmother." "Mon Dieu!" she exclaimed, in horror.